It’s the Long Race
I started to slip. Again. Some races are long ones. Some are short. We are remodeling our home. It’s exciting and unnerving all at once. I can do just about anything for a few weeks. Our remodeling is a short race. I can see the end in sight. Some races are long ones. Sustaining and nourishing a marriage is a long one. Raising kids to be God-loving, independent, productive, kind adults is a long one. I need faith, deep and enduring faith, to run both, but especially the long races.
I started to focus on the people in my life instead of on God. I was obsessing on what he or she was or was not doing. I was becoming annoyed and frustrated that my needs were not being met. I was letting others drain the life right from me. I was allowing others to dictate my joy and happiness or lack of it.
I used to get really “far off” before I even realized it. I was down the road, almost to the next county, before I would have the sense that I getting lost. I hate that feeling of being lost. In fact, I am growing to hate it even more. And that’s a good thing when you are talking about your Spiritual walk. The Holy Spirit increases our sensitivity to what is right and what is wrong. It’s by our faith that we are able to distinguish between the two.
“…his faith is credited as righteousness.” Romans 4:5 [+/-]b
“It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.” Romans 4:13 [+/-]
I guess I had started to ask those “why” questions and didn’t even realize it. In my mutterings and groanings, to both myself and others, I was more or less saying…………..Why is “this” still happening? Why is this taking so long? Why do I have to keep enduring this trial? I thought it was getting better. I thought we were moving ahead. Why now? And the ultimate……Why me?
Joyce Meyer writes about the power and confusion that the “why” question can have in our lives in her book entitled “I Dare You-Embrace Life with Passion”. In the very first chapter, she explains that although God made us to be “inquisitive and curious” people that there will not be answers for every question, that there will be many things that we will never fully understand and that we will have to be willing to accept that. She writes, “Most people try to give God what they are, but I firmly believe we should also give Him what we are not. He does more with nothing than He does with something! If you feel like nothing, you are just what God is looking for. You are someone He can work with. Give yourself to Him. Accept your life so far, even though you don’t have one ounce of understanding about it and you will sense a peace that is wonderful!”
Sounds like Joyce is talking about the long race, doesn’t it?
So maybe asking “why” is a direct assault on our faith. Maybe it does nothing but distract us from our mission to grow in our love relationship with God and to be a caring servant for His work here in this world. Maybe asking “why” is just as ill-productive as going by our feelings, our thoughts or our experiences. Maybe asking “why” is the opposite of faith.
God wants to bless us and not in any, old, ordinary kind of way. He knows us exactly because He made us. We are created in His image. He longs to pour out His blessings upon us.
“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:5 [+/-]
In Max Lucado’s “Grace for the Moment-Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year”, he reminds us that when God blesses, it will not be for just the best, just a few or the elite. It will be for all of His children. No one will be left out. His praise will be personal. It will be unique. It will be suited and selected just for me. Just for you. I find great solace in that especially during these long races. That I don’t have to settle for just random, general, one-size-fits-all kinds of blessings, but that God knows exactly my heart and exactly where my deepest needs lie. He will reach out specifically to me and meet me right where I need Him most.
There are conflicts in priorities especially in those longer races. Not everyone will see things the same. I struggle with wanting my own way. I struggle with wanting to have extreme and inflexible rules for myself, my family and even the bigger world that I function in. I struggle with wanting more control and predictability than is reasonably healthy or is even possible.
“Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘The righteous will live by faith.’ The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, ‘The man who does these things will live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming the curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” Galatians 3:11-14 [+/-]
Christ brings us freedom. Not rules or regulations. God knew that even the best person, the smartest person, the kindest person could never uphold the Ten Commandments from the Old Testament. Not even for one day. Not even for one hour. So He sent His Son to be the ultimate sacrifice for all our sins. Sins already committed. Sins yet to be committed. Whether the race is long or short, our faith is grounded in our relationship with Christ.
And finally, God always brings us to forgiveness. The hurts and disappointments can really pile up especially during these longer races. Before we know it, we have the clutter and the burden of resentment, anger and bitterness in our lives. We try to keep it under wraps or at least in it’s place, but eventually it takes over. We forgive because God has forgiven us and we forgive because God calls to forgive others. And there will be times, many times, that you don’t feel like it and don’t want to forgive. But I try to do it anyway because I know it’s what is required of me. I know it is for my own healing. I know it is for the healing of the relationships in my life. God works out the rest regardless of my feelings or inadequacies with the process. And although I always have a choice, I want all my races to start and finish with faith.
I started to slip. I started to focus on people, hurts and needs. I started to ask the “why” question. God used the Holy Spirit to sharpen my awareness that I was becoming lost. Again. I was having trouble figuring out what was right and what was wrong. God reassured me that He wanted to bless me and not just in any old ways, but in the ways that mattered most to me. And finally, He reminded me that He forgives me endlessly and completely everyday. And I must do the same in my relationships.
All our lives are made up of short and long races, but it will be who we turn to and what we do during them that will make the difference in our lives. May your faith be strengthened especially during your long races.
krisihrig said:
hey mom great job love its a long race